Americans Against Double Taxation Statement on Senate Tax Reform Vote

WASHINGTON – Americans Against Double Taxation issued the following statement in reaction to the passage of H.R. 1, which partially eliminates the state and local tax deduction (SALT), in the Senate by a vote of 51 to 49:

“We are disappointed that the Senate, like the House, rushed to vote for a bill that eliminates the most frequently claimed deduction in the tax code for the middle class without even a single hearing on the legislation. For the first time in the nation’s history, this bill double taxes millions of Americans and creates a double standard by partially eliminating SALT for individuals and families while preserving this same benefit for corporations. Cutting SALT will raise taxes on middle-class homeowners while driving down home values, and lead to cuts in education, public safety and other essential state and local public services that support all citizens. We will continue to fight throughout the conference process to save this vital benefit for middle class families.”

Recent polls consistently demonstrate voters overwhelmingly oppose eliminating or restricting SALT. POLITICO/Morning Consult found that restricting SALT was the least popular provision in the congressional tax reform plans, with 44% of voters believing it should not be in a final bill passed by Congress. Quinnipiac University found that voters thought that eliminating SALT was a bad idea by nearly a 2-1 margin (59-30%), including 62% of independents and nearly 40% of Republicans. State-specific polling by Hart Research Associates found strong majorities of voters in Maine (73%), Arizona (70%) and Tennessee (65%) viewed the Senate tax plan less favorably due to its elimination of SALT.